Comments for Writing About Music http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:34:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 Comment on File Organization by Jonathan Feist http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2008/01/02/file-organization/#comment-35 Jonathan Feist Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:48:53 +0000 http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2008/01/02/file-organization/#comment-35 In fact, one of the other resolutions from last year that I actually achieved was to start carrying an electronic date book with me. It turned out that my cell phone plan allowed me to upgrade my old (horrible!) phone to a Palm Treo for just $70. It has been a great addition, for me. It syncs nicely with Oracle Calendar at work. Besides meetings and other events, calendars are helpful triggers for timely actions. For example, it is critical that I remember to buy chicken food tomorrow, so there's a reminder on my Palm that I do so. I will buy enough for three weeks, and so I can put another reminder on my calendar in three weeks to do the same. As you say, it's important to get stuff like this out of your head and into a trusted system. That's what the GTD approach is all about. In fact, one of the other resolutions from last year that I actually achieved was to start carrying an electronic date book with me.

It turned out that my cell phone plan allowed me to upgrade my old (horrible!) phone to a Palm Treo for just $70. It has been a great addition, for me. It syncs nicely with Oracle Calendar at work.

Besides meetings and other events, calendars are helpful triggers for timely actions. For example, it is critical that I remember to buy chicken food tomorrow, so there’s a reminder on my Palm that I do so. I will buy enough for three weeks, and so I can put another reminder on my calendar in three weeks to do the same.

As you say, it’s important to get stuff like this out of your head and into a trusted system. That’s what the GTD approach is all about.

]]> Comment on File Organization by Danielle http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2008/01/02/file-organization/#comment-34 Danielle Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:02:06 +0000 http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2008/01/02/file-organization/#comment-34 I recently rediscovered, to my surprise, that some people don't use datebooks/calendars. I don't have a ton of time-sensitive commitments, but still I couldn't possibly keep them all in my head! It would be a huge source of stress. I recently rediscovered, to my surprise, that some people don’t use datebooks/calendars. I don’t have a ton of time-sensitive commitments, but still I couldn’t possibly keep them all in my head! It would be a huge source of stress.

]]> Comment on Music is Your Focus by Tom Ahern http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/11/20/music-is-your-focus/#comment-13 Tom Ahern Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:20:05 +0000 http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/11/20/music-is-your-focus/#comment-13 Set a timer. I started with 15 minutes daily. And worked my way up to (on rare occasions) hours at a time. But definitely the timer made all the difference getting started with a routine. Set a timer. I started with 15 minutes daily. And worked my way up to (on rare occasions) hours at a time. But definitely the timer made all the difference getting started with a routine.

]]> Comment on Welcome to “Writing about Music” by jfeist http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/10/18/welcome-to-writing-about-music/#comment-8 jfeist Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:38:04 +0000 http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/10/18/welcome-to-writing-about-music/#comment-8 Thanks Mark! An interesting sidenote to the “diabolus in musica” (devil in music) tag for tritones is that tritones have been present and acceptable in music for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. A common misconception is that it was considered heretical to include them, particularly during the middle ages. Actually, the term “diabolus in musica” was more of a pedagogical device, drawing attention to the fact that tritones require careful handling, if they are to sound natural and purposeful. Nobody was ever burned at the stake for using tritones! (At least, not yet....) Thanks Mark!

An interesting sidenote to the “diabolus in musica” (devil in music) tag for tritones is that tritones have been present and acceptable in music for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. A common misconception is that it was considered heretical to include them, particularly during the middle ages. Actually, the term “diabolus in musica” was more of a pedagogical device, drawing attention to the fact that tritones require careful handling, if they are to sound natural and purposeful. Nobody was ever burned at the stake for using tritones! (At least, not yet….)

]]> Comment on Welcome to “Writing about Music” by Mark Simos http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/10/18/welcome-to-writing-about-music/#comment-2 Mark Simos Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:12:35 +0000 http://jonathanfeist.berkleemusicblogs.com/2007/10/18/welcome-to-writing-about-music/#comment-2 Jonathan: What a great contribution this blog is and will become! I think the phrase "the devil's in the details" applies to more than notating the tritone - in this case, some of these editorial decisions and decisions about terminology and nomenclature wind up having a major impact on pedagogy, not just at Berklee but as you point out in the broader musical world as well. What a great thing it is that someone cares this much about sweating the details. Mark Simos Jonathan:

What a great contribution this blog is and will become! I think the phrase “the devil’s in the details” applies to more than notating the tritone - in this case, some of these editorial decisions and decisions about terminology and nomenclature wind up having a major impact on pedagogy, not just at Berklee but as you point out in the broader musical world as well. What a great thing it is that someone cares this much about sweating the details.

Mark Simos

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